RaT Goes Chinese

By Haddenham Webteam - 4th June 2014 8:28pm

The Rose and Thistle is taking on a Chinese flavour to take the place of a recently closed village favourite.

The RaT has branched out following the closure of the Peking Rendezvous a year and a half ago. The Peking Rendezvous, which closed in April 2013, had been a mainstay of village life for more than 20 years and enterprising landlords of the Rose & Thistle, Spas & Candace Tantilov, recognise that it has been missed.

"Speaking to many of our customers and as residents of the village ourselves we know how many local folk appreciated having a good quality Chinese restaurant and takeaway in the village. It was a shame when it closed because a lot of people had been going there for years, including our family. That's why we have decided to turn the Rose and Thistle into a Chinese restaurant."

The Rose and Thistle will continue to operate as a traditional pub in terms of drinks and décor but the food served will be Chinese.

The food will be cooked by Malaysian Head Chef 'Mun Chi Hoo', more affectionately known as Haowun.

He has been cooking for 17 years, being taught by his mother and father who are both chefs themselves. For the last six years Haowun has been in a top restaurant 'China City', in Chinatown in London.

The menu will be traditional Chinese cuisine, focusing on quality and execution of great tasting dishes. The menu will be served a la carte in the pub, as well as for takeaway and as a delivery service.

Mr Tantilov said: "Our next step is to refurbish the separate restaurant room and make it into an authentic looking Chinese Restaurant."

"We're really excited about this project. We believe the village needs a Chinese restaurant and we hope everyone will come down and support us on our adventure."

This latest change is the most recent of a long list of upgrades and refurbishments that Spas and Candace have overseen since they & took over the RaT in February 2011.

"It's no secret that pubs are struggling in the current economic conditions. Not a week goes by without hearing of another pub closing. We've had to work really hard to get where we are now. This is the next step for us."

"Although we are adding good quality Chinese food to our menu, we will always continue to provide our regular customers with the traditional pub experience they seek."